Ancient Crops
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Melothria scabra 'Cucamelon'
Mouse melon, Mexican miniature watermelon.
(First described in 1866)€2.35Is it an exceptionally small cucumber or the world’s cutest watermelon? That is the vexing question. This tiny melon has been creating a buzz. Its unique flavour, with hints of cucumber and lime, its ease of growth, not to mention its productivity, all conspire to recommend this unusual vine to home gardeners looking for something new to add to their menus.
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Malabar Spinach, Basella rubra
Chinese spinach, Saan choy, Pui shak€2.35Commonly called Malabar Spinach, Basella rubra is valued for the brilliant fuchsia-purplish colour of its leaf stems and veins as well as its mild flavour. The leaves are delicious mixed in with other greens in tossed salads. Juicy and crisp, the flavours of citrus and pepper accompany the succulent leaves.
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Malabar Spinach, Basella alba
Chinese spinach, Saan choy, Pui shak€2.35Malabar Spinach, is a vining type of plant that thrives in hot temperatures, it is a discovery that is a boon for those of us that love our greens but find the warm days of summer a bit too hot for good growth. It can be grown throughout the summer and can even cope when the heat exceeds 32°C (90°F).
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Liquorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Organic
European Liquorice or Licorice (U.S.)€2.92Out of stock
The liquorice plant has a very long history of use both as a medicine and as flavouring. The soft and pliable roots have an aroma strongly reminiscent of anise or fennel. The taste is dominantly sweet, warm and medical. Organic Seed. -
Liquorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra
European Liquorice or Licorice (U.S.)€2.00Liquorice has been grown in England since the Dark Ages. The fresh root is bright yellowish brown, soft and pliable, it is harvested in the autumn and is dried for later use. The aroma is strongly reminiscent of anise or fennel. The taste is dominantly sweet, warm and medical.
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Leaf Beet, Perpetual Spinach, Organic
Spinach Beet, Seakale Beet, Wild Spinach
Heritage variety (In use in 1790)€1.95Out of stock
'Perpetual Spinach is one of the easiest and most productive vegetables for a small space. Extremely resistant to bolting, it responds particularly well to repeat cutting. With just one sowing you can feast on the succulent leaves the entire summer and through to winter. -
Lavandula angustifolia 'Lavender Vera'
True English Lavender, Old English LavenderStarting at: €1.75
Lavendula angustifolia is an excellent plant for low informal hedging and as a specimen evergreen for borders and formal gardens. Flowering generally begins from mid to late June to early July. The flowers have a rich sweet scent and are highly attractive to bees and other beneficial insects.
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Isatis tinctoria 'Woad'
Dyers Woad
Wildflower of the British Isles€2.25Out of stock
Woad has been grown for its indigo-blue pigment and for its medicinal properties since the 13th century, recently capturing popular imagination as the blue dye for body paint used by the Celts. This fashionable plant has a fresh wildflower appearance that can brighten any garden.
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Hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis, Blue Hyssop
Blue Hyssop
Wildflower of Britain and Ireland€1.75Hyssop is a strong-flavoured aromatic herb which is enjoying a revival with home gardeners. An ideal plant for use in containers or as a low hedge or border within the herb garden. Highly attractive to bees, it makes excellent honey and is a must for any wildflower garden.
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€2.35
Out of stock
Hyssop, once recognised as a medicinal herb is enjoying a revival with home gardeners. An aromatic herb similar to rosemary or lavender, it makes an excellent low hedge and more unusual alternative to box. The plants are a dark, vibrant green with a spiky, upright habit and narrow tongue-like leaves. 'Pink' Hyssop sports vibrant, pink flowers.
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€2.00
Hyssopus officinalis 'Alba' is a much less well known variety of hyssop. Also known as 'White Hyssop' the plants sport bright white flowers from July to October. Widely used as a 'taste enhancing' herb or wildlife plant, the plants are a dark, vibrant green with a spiky, upright habit and narrow tongue-like leaves which have a peppery scent when stroked.
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Good King Henry
Chenopodium bonus-henricus (An Ancient Crop)
Poor-man's Asparagus, Lincolnshire Spinach.€2.55Out of stock
Good King Henry has been used as a vegetable for centuries and was once a common sight in every garden. Good King Henry may have lost his court and become something of a rarity today, but this unique herb has much to offer to the home or cottage gardener.
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€1.95
Whether your interest lies in medicinal herbs or simply its decorative qualities, growing Feverfew can be a welcome addition to any garden or allotment. Feverfew is a good companion plant and a natural insect repellent. Ideal for planting around outdoor seating areas and pathways
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€2.10
Out of stock
Tanacetum parthenium 'Aureum', commonly called Golden Feverfew or Golden Feather, is a clump-forming, dwarf cultivar which typically grows only 20 to 30cm tall and features small daisy-like flowers and chartreuse aromatic foliage. It blooms profusely between July and October.
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Evening Primrose, Oenothera biennis, Organic
Evening Primrose, Herb Primrose, King's cure-all
Wildflower of Europe€2.45Oenothera biennis provides a wonderful splash of summer colour in the garden. Flowering begins in June and plants continue growing throughout the season so there is a constant succession until about September. In early summer the sweetly scented, bright yellow flowers open towards evening and are faintly phosphorescent. -
Evening Primrose, Oenothera biennis
Evening Primrose, Herb Primrose, King's cure-all
Wildflower of Europe€2.00Out of stock
Evening Primrose is a classic plant, with its beautiful yellow flowers is a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. The whole plant is edible: leaves can be cooked as greens and the nutty-flavoured roots can be boiled and eaten like potatoes, parsnips, or salsify. The flowers make a lovely salad garnish.
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Eryngium maritimum
Seaside Eryngo, Sea Holly.
Ancient Crop. Wildflower of Britain and Ireland€3.25Out of stock
Eryngium maritimum is an evergreen perennial plant native to Europe. Often found on sea shores, it is a protected species in many parts of the world. Highly ornamental, it is grown in gardens for its metallic bluish flowers and intensely whitish-glaucous leaves, it is very attractive to bees and butterflies.
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Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale
Dandelion, Clockflower, Tell-The-Time, Blowball, Puffball, Priests Crown€1.50Dandelion is reviled by lawn manicurists yet, like Burdock, it is one of the most esteemed herbs in healing, the benefits are endless. The young raw leaves can be used in salads or cooked as a vegetable, the leaves contain more iron than spinach and are a excellent source of vitamins.
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€2.65If you're an adventurous gardener, cook, or gastronome, then you'll want to grow cardoons. In summer, tall flower stems which are topped with large blue-violet blooms. A dramatic statement in the flower border and a flavour that is truly unique in the vegetable world. Organic Seeds.
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Cynara cardunculus 'Cardoon'
Cardoon€2.20Whether you are into the culinary arts or edible landscapes, you may want to put this plant at the top of your list. Chosen by the RHS as one of the top plants of the last 200 years, Cardoons are aristocrats in both the ornamental and the vegetable world. -
Cumin, Cuminum cyminum
Jira or Zi yar€1.75Cuminum Cyminum has a richness of history that gives it a special place in the world of spices. Cumin is globally popular and an essential flavouring in many cuisines. Easy to grow, this versatile spice makes a wonderful addition to any herb garden and does wonders in the kitchen.
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Crithmum maritimum ‘Rock Samphire’
True Samphire, Sea Fennel€2.95Out of stock
For centuries, Samphire was food for the poor, free to those who picked it, usually ordinary people living by the sea. It is ironic that today it is regarded as a specialty food and is often served with an accompanying price tag. Somewhere between asparagus and seaweed in flavour, Rock Samphire has the thrill of a mermaid’s kiss.
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Cress: Watercress, Organic
European watercress.€1.95Watercress has risen to a starring role in elaborate culinary preparations and is as beneficial for the health as much as the palate. This highly nutritious aquatic herb has a lovely mustardy bite most commonly served raw as a garnish or as part of a salad. Organic Seed. -
Cress: Watercress
European watercress.€1.75Out of stock
Watercress has risen to a starring role in elaborate culinary preparations and is as beneficial for the health as much as the palate. This highly nutritious aquatic herb has a lovely mustardy bite most commonly served raw as a garnish or as part of a salad.